The Diary of a Napoleonic Foot Soldier
Jakob Walter, 1806–1813: A German Soldier in Napoleon's Grand ArmyBy Jakob WalterRecorded TrackLength2h 37m
About this audiobook
The Napoleonic Wars are often remembered through great battles, famous generals, and the ambitions of emperors. Far less often do we hear from the ordinary soldiers who were forced to march, fight, and struggle to survive.
The Diary of a Napoleonic Foot Soldier tells that story through the experiences of Jakob Walter, a young German stonemason conscripted into Napoleon’s army.
Across three campaigns, Walter records the exhausting marches, brutal fighting, hunger, disease, bitter cold, and constant search for food and shelter that defined the life of a common soldier.
His account offers no grand strategy or romantic vision of war. Instead, it reveals the Napoleonic Wars as they were experienced from the ground: confused, violent, unforgiving, and often governed by little more than chance and the instinct to survive.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★ 4.1 (1.8K)
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GenreBiography and Memoir
Length2 hrs 37 mins
Narrated byRecorded Track
FormatAudiobook
Publish dateJul 16, 2026
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Intro
2Chapter 1: Siege of Kolberg (1807)
3Chapter 2: Siege of Silberberg (1807)
4Chapter 3: Battle of Lindau (1809)
5Chapter 4: Invasion of Russia (1812)
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6Chapter 5: Battle of Smolensk (1812)
7Chapter 6: Borodino & Moscow (1812)
8Chapter 7: Retreat from Moscow
9Chapter 8: Orsha
10Chapter 9: Berezina
11Chapter 10: After Berezina
12Chapter 11: Reinforcements
13Chapter 12: Almost Home
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